Automatic seed planting machine and method for planting seeds in planters

Abstract

A method and automatic machine for planting seeds in boxes which insures that uniform and consistent seed distribution will be present in each planted box, and comprising dispensing seeds continuously from a supply hopper in single height, side-by-side relation onto an upper endless conveyor, dropping the seeds from the upper conveyor onto a lower endless conveyor moving at a speed greater than the upper conveyor, and depositing the seeds on the lower conveyor into boxes moving on a delivery conveyor below the lower conveyor. After the seeds have been deposited in the boxes, the boxes move under a second hopper where a covering material is dispensed uniformly over the seeds. Adjustable gates on the supply hopper and the second hopper control the discharge of seeds and covering material, respectively, to insure uniform and consistent discharge from the hoppers.

I claim: 
     
       1. The method of planting seeds of a predetermined size uniformly in flats comprising the steps of: dispensing seeds from a supply in a hopper in single height, side-by-side, and closely spaced relation onto a first conveyor;   dropping said seeds from said first conveyor to a second conveyor positioned therebelow;   moving said second conveyor at a speed faster than that of said first conveyor thereby to space out said seeds dropped onto said second conveyor; and   dropping said seeds from the end of said second conveyor into flats moving on a third conveyor below said second conveyor.   
     
     
       2. The method of planting seeds of a predetermined size in flats, comprising the steps of: dispensing seeds from a supply in a hopper in single-height, side-by-side, and closely spaced relation onto a first conveyor;   dropping said seeds from said first conveyor to a second conveyor positioned therebelow;   moving said second conveyor at a speed faster than that of said first conveyor thereby to space out said seeds dropped onto said second conveyor;   dropping said seeds from the end of said second conveyor into flats moving on a third conveyor below said second conveyor; and   dispensing a covering material into said flats after said seeds have been dropped from said second conveyor into said flats.   
     
     
       3. The method of planting seeds of a predetermined size uniformly into flats comprising the steps of: filling a hopper with a supply of seeds;   dispensing seeds from said hopper in single-height, side-by-side, and closely spaced relation onto a first conveyor;   dropping said seeds from said first conveyor to a second conveyor position therebelow;   moving said second conveyor at a speed faster than that of said first conveyor thereby to space out said seeds dropped onto said second conveyor;   dropping said seeds from the end of said second conveyor into flats moving on a third conveyor below said second conveyor; and   dispensing a uniform layer of covering material into said flats after said seeds have been dropped from said second conveyor into said flat.